Display module and display apparatus having the same

ABSTRACT

A display module includes a display panel; a backlight unit which is disposed behind the display panel; a bottom chassis to accommodate the backlight unit; and a reflective sheet which is disposed inside the bottom chassis and configured to reflect a light portion incident thereon toward the display panel. The backlight unit includes LEDs disposed apart from one another in 2D array, and the reflective sheet includes a sheet bottom portion corresponding to a front surface of the bottom chassis, a sheet inclined portion which is obliquely formed to face a rear surface of the display panel, and light adjustment portions which are provided on the sheet inclined portion and configured to adjust the light portion reflected by the sheet inclined portion. Each of the light adjustment portions corresponds to one of the LEDs disposed adjacent to the sheet inclined portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/809,790 filedJul. 27, 2015, which is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/167,514 filed Jan. 29, 2014, which claims priority from Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2013-0011150, filed Jan. 31, 2013 in the KoreanIntellectual Property Office, the disclosures of which are incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Apparatuses and methods consistent with exemplary embodiments relate toa display panel to display an image through a liquid crystal, a displaymodule having a backlight unit to emit light toward the display panel,and a display apparatus having the same.

2. Description of the Related Art

A display module is an apparatus including a display panel on which animage is displayed, and is used for various display apparatuses such asmonitors and televisions.

A liquid crystal display (LCD) panel is widely used as a display panel,but the display panel using the LCD panel is unable to emit light byitself. For this reason, a backlight unit is disposed behind the displaypanel, and a diffusion plate to diffuse light illuminated from thebacklight unit is arranged between the display panel and the backlightunit, thereby enabling light to be evenly dispersed and supplied to theentire display panel.

In addition, a display module may include a reflective sheet which isdisposed on an inner side of a bottom chassis defining a rear surface ofthe display module to reflect light reflected to the bottom chassistoward the front of the display panel.

In the display module, only a little amount of light may be transmittedto the most peripheral side of the display panel compared with the otherregions thereof. Consequently, a dark shadow may be generated at themost peripheral side of the display panel. Therefore, in order toprevent the above issue, the light source needs to be disposed close tothe side portions of the display module.

SUMMARY

Exemplary embodiments may address at least the above problems and/ordisadvantages and other disadvantages not described above. Also, theexemplary embodiments are not required to overcome the disadvantagesdescribed above, and an exemplary embodiment may not overcome any of theproblems described above.

One or more of exemplary embodiments provide a display module and adisplay apparatus capable of reducing generation of a hotspot at aperipheral side of the display panel.

In accordance with an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, there isprovided a display module includes a display panel, a backlight unitdisposed behind the display panel to illuminate light toward the displaypanel, a bottom chassis to accommodate the backlight unit therein, and areflective sheet disposed inside the bottom chassis to allow lightilluminated from the backlight unit to be reflected forward, wherein thereflective sheet includes a sheet bottom portion corresponding to afront surface of the bottom chassis, a sheet side surface portion whichis obliquely formed to face a rear surface of the display panel, and atleast one light adjustment portion which is provided on the sheet sidesurface portion to adjust light reflected by the sheet side surfaceportion.

The light adjustment portion may include a plurality of slits extendingparallel with the front surface of the bottom chassis.

The light adjustment portion may include a rectangular hole extendingparallel with the front surface of the bottom chassis.

The light adjustment portion may include an oval hole extending parallelwith the front surface of the bottom chassis.

The backlight unit may include a plurality of boards and a plurality oflight emitting diodes (LEDs) disposed on the boards to be spaced apartfrom each other, and the at least one light adjustment portion mayinclude a plurality of light adjustment portions formed to be spaceapart from each other such that the light adjustment portions correspondto LEDs disposed adjacent to the sheet side surface portion among theLEDs.

The backlight unit may include a plurality of lenses which arerespectively installed on the LEDs, and the reflective sheet may includea plurality of through holes which are provided in the sheet bottomportion so that the LEDs and lenses protrude through the through holes.

In accordance with an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, there isprovided a display apparatus includes a display module to display ascreen, wherein the display module includes a display panel, a backlightunit disposed behind the display panel to illuminate light toward thedisplay panel, a bottom chassis to accommodate the backlight unittherein, and a reflective sheet disposed inside the bottom chassis toallow light illuminated from the backlight unit to be reflected forward,and the reflective sheet includes a sheet bottom portion correspondingto a front surface of the bottom chassis, a sheet side surface portionwhich is obliquely formed to face a rear surface of the display panel,and at least one light adjustment portion which is provided on the sheetside surface portion to adjust light reflected by the sheet side surfaceportion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and/or other aspects will become more apparent by describingcertain exemplary embodiments, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a display apparatusaccording to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a display moduleaccording to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the display moduleaccording to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating light adjustment portions toan exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating light adjustment portionsaccording to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating light adjustment portionsaccording to an exemplary embodiment; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating light adjustment portionsaccording to an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Certain exemplary embodiments are described in greater detail below withreference to the accompanying drawings.

In the following description, the same drawing reference numerals areused for the same elements even in different drawings. The mattersdefined in the description, such as detailed construction and elements,are provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplaryembodiments. Thus, it is apparent that exemplary embodiments can becarried out without those specifically defined matters. Also, well-knownfunctions or constructions are not described in detail since they wouldobscure exemplary embodiments with unnecessary detail.

As shown in FIG. 1, a display apparatus includes a display module 10 onwhich an image is displayed, a front case 20F and a rear case 20Rbetween which the display module 10 is installed while the front case20F and the rear case 20R are coupled to each other in a forward andrearward direction. A control substrate 30 is disposed between thedisplay module 10 and the rear case 20R to transmit power and a signalto the display module 10.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the display module 10 includes a displaypanel 11 which includes an LCD panel to display a screen. Backlightunits 12 are disposed behind the display panel 11 and are spaced apartfrom each other to supply light to the display panel 11. A diffusionplate 13 is disposed behind the display panel 11 so that lightilluminated from the backlight units 12 is diffused and transmitted tothe display panel 11, and a variety of optical sheets 14A and 14B isdisposed on a front surface of the diffusion plate 13.

The display module 10 includes a middle mold 15 to support the displaypanel 11 and the diffusion plate 13, and a top chassis 16 installed infront of the middle mold 15 to position the display panel 11 on themiddle mold 15. The backlight units 12 are installed in a bottom chassis17 which is installed behind the middle mold 15.

The backlight units 12 include printed circuit boards 12 a which aredisposed in the bottom chassis 17 while each has a conductive pattern,LEDs 12 b which are installed on a front surface of each printed circuitboard 12 a to face the diffusion plate 13, and circular lenses 12 cwhich are installed on the respective LEDs 12 b to diffuse lightgenerated by the LEDs 12 b.

In an exemplary embodiment, each printed circuit board 12 a is elongatedin one direction to correspond to a length of the display panel 11. Theprinted circuit boards 12 a are disposed to be spaced parallel with eachother, in an array. The LEDs 12 b and the lenses 12 c installed on therespective LEDs 12 b are disposed to be spaced apart from each other ina longitudinal direction of each of the printed circuit boards. Theprinted circuit boards 12 a are connected to each other by a connectionsubstrate 12 d.

The optical sheet 14A may include a prism film to concentrate lightdiffused by the diffusion plate 13 in a direction perpendicular to thedisplay panel 11, and the optical sheet 14B may include a protectivefilm to protect the prism film.

The middle mold 15 may be embodied as a module having the display panel11 at the front side and the diffusion plate 13 at the rear side and mayprovide support for the display panel 11 and the diffusion plate 13. Theoptical sheets 14A and 14B may be further disposed between the diffusionplate 13 and the rear side.

The top chassis 16 has a bezel portion 16 a covering a front surface ofa periphery of the display panel 11, and a top side surface portion 16 bbent rearward from a periphery of the bezel portion 16 a.

The bottom chassis 17 has a substantially rectangular shape, andincludes a bottom front surface 17 a on which the backlight units 12 arepositioned and a bottom side surface 17 b extending toward the displaypanel from a periphery of the bottom front surface 17 a. The bottomfront surface 17 b has seating grooves 17 c which are recessed so thatthe printed circuit boards 12 a of the backlight units 12 arerespectively positioned in the seating grooves 17 c.

The display module 10 includes a reflective sheet 18 which is disposedinside the bottom chassis 17 to reflect light illuminated toward theinside of the bottom chassis 17 toward the display panel 11.

The reflective sheet 18 includes a sheet bottom portion 18 a which isdisposed at the bottom front surface 17 a which defines the frontsurface of the bottom chassis 17, and a sheet inclined portion 18 bwhich extends toward the display panel from a peripheral edge 18 f ofthe sheet bottom portion 18 a.

The sheet bottom portion 18 a is provided with holes 18 c at respectivepositions corresponding to each of the LEDs 12 b and the lenses 12 c sothat the LEDs 12 b and the lenses 12 c protrude through the reflectivesheet 18 through the holes 18 c. The light L1 generated by the LEDs 12 bis emitted toward the display panel 11 in a forward direction F, and aportion the light reflected in a rearward direction R by the diffusionplate 13 or the like is reflected in the forward direction by thereflective sheet 18.

The sheet inclined portion 18 b extends toward the display panel 11 fromthe periphery of the sheet bottom portion 18 a, namely fromup-down-left-right tips of the sheet bottom portion 18 a, and isobliquely formed, at an oblique angle β with respect to a plane of thesheet bottom portion 18 a, to face the rear surface of the display panel11. Consequently, a light portion L2 emitted by the LEDs 12 b andincident on the sheet inclined portion 18 b may be reflected toward thedisplay panel 11. In an exemplary embodiment, since the diffusion plate13 is disposed behind the display panel 11, the sheet inclined portion18 b is obliquely formed to face the rear surface of the diffusion plate13.

In the display module 10, only a little amount of light may betransmitted to the most peripheral side of the display panel 11 comparedwith the other regions thereof. Consequently, a dark shadow may begenerated at the most peripheral side of the display panel 11 comparedwith the other regions. Therefore, in order to prevent the above issue,the LEDs 12 b need to be disposed substantially close to the sheetinclined portion 18 b.

However, in a case in which the LEDs 12 b are installed adjacent to thesheet inclined portion 18 b, light L1 directly emitted by the LEDs 12 band the light L2 reflected by the sheet inclined portion 18 b maysimultaneously reach a region of the display panel 11 adjacent to theLEDs 12 b, and, thus, a light hotspot may be generated at a tip side ofthe display panel 11 adjacent to the LEDs 12 b as compared with otherregions.

Accordingly, to prevent the above issue, the sheet inclined portion 18 bmay be provided with one or several light adjustment portions 18 d topartially adjust light reflected by the sheet inclined portion 18 b, asshown in FIG. 4.

In an exemplary embodiment, the light adjustment portions 18 drespectively correspond to the LEDs 12 b which are disposed adjacent tothe sheet inclined portion 18 b. Furthermore, in an exemplaryembodiment, each of the light adjustment portions 18 d includes aplurality of slits 18 e which extend in parallel with the bottom frontsurface 17 a of the bottom chassis 17. For example, the slits 18 e mayextend in parallel with the peripheral edge 18 f disposed between thesheet bottom portion 18 a and the sheet inclined portion 18 b.

The light adjustment portion 18 d configured of the slits 18 e is formedby thin cutting the sheet inclined portion 18 b in a linear form.Accordingly, a portion of light incident toward the light adjustmentportion 18 d may leak to a space 19 between the sheet inclined portion18 b and the bottom side surface 17 b through the slits 18 e.

In addition, portions adjacent to the slits may be deformed convexly orconcavely in the process of forming the light adjustment portion 18 d bycutting the sheet inclined portion 18 b. Thus, a portion of lightincident upon the light adjustment portion 18 d may be dispersed inlongitudinal directions of the slits due to shapes of the adjacentportions.

Accordingly, a portion of light incident toward the light adjustmentportion 18 d leaks through the slits, and is dispersed in thelongitudinal directions of the slits by the adjacent portions of theslits. Consequently, it may be possible to reduce a hotspot generatedwhen light is concentrated at a particular region.

In an exemplary embodiment, the light adjustment portion 18 d is formedby the slits extending in parallel with each other, but this is notlimiting. As shown in FIG. 5, a light adjustment portion 18 d-1 may beformed as a rectangular hole extending in parallel with the bottom frontsurface 17 a. For example, a lengthwise direction of the rectangularhole may extend in parallel with the peripheral edge 18 f.

As another example, as shown in FIG. 6, a light adjustment portion 18d-2 may be formed as an oval hole extending in parallel with the bottomfront surface 17 a. For example, a lengthwise direction of the oval holemay extend in parallel with the peripheral edge 18 f.

When the light adjustment portion 18 d-1 or 18 d-2 is formed as arectangular hole or an oval hole, a portion of light emitted by the LEDs12 b and incident on the sheet inclined portion 18 b may leak to a space19 between the sheet inclined portion 18 b and the bottom side surface17 b through the rectangular hole or the oval hole. Therefore, the lightreflected toward the periphery of the display panel 11 by the sheetinclined portion 18 b is decreased, thereby reducing generation ofhotspots.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, a light adjustment portion 18 d-3 maybe formed by a light diffusion layer made by applying or coating a lightdiffusion material on the sheet inclined portion 18 b.

As apparent from the above description, since a light adjustment portionis provided on a sheet side surface portion of a reflective sheet and anamount of light reflected by the sheet side surface portion of thereflective sheet is reduced or dispersed, it may be possible to reducegeneration of a hotspot at a peripheral side of a display panel.

The foregoing exemplary embodiments and advantages are merely exemplaryand are not to be construed as limiting. The present teaching can bereadily applied to other types of apparatuses. Also, the description ofthe exemplary embodiments is intended to be illustrative, and not tolimit the scope of the claims, and many alternatives, modifications, andvariations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display module comprising: a display panel; aplurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) disposed behind the displaypanel and spaced from the display panel to emit light toward the displaypanel; a bottom chassis configured to accommodate the plurality of LEDs;and a reflective sheet disposed inside the bottom chassis and configuredto reflect a light portion incident thereon toward the display panel,the reflective sheet comprising: a sheet bottom portion corresponding toa front surface of the bottom chassis, sheet inclined portions obliquelyformed to face a rear surface of the display panel, and a plurality oflight adjustment portions provided on respective sheet inclined portionsand configured to adjust the light portion incident on the respectivesheet inclined portions, wherein each of the plurality of lightadjustment portions disposed on a respective sheet inclined portioncorresponds to one of the plurality of LEDs disposed adjacent to therespective sheet inclined portion in a one to one relationship, andwherein the plurality of light adjustment portions extends in parallelwith the front surface of the bottom chassis.
 2. The display moduleaccording to claim 1, wherein the plurality of light adjustment portionscomprises at least one among slits, a rectangular hole, and an oval holeextending in parallel with the front surface of the bottom chassis. 3.The display module according to claim 2, wherein at least one of theplurality of light adjustment portions comprises the slits extending inparallel with the front surface of the bottom chassis.
 4. The displaymodule according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the plurality oflight adjustment portions comprises the rectangular hole extending inparallel with the front surface of the bottom chassis.
 5. The displaymodule according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the plurality oflight adjustment portions comprises the oval hole extending in parallelwith the front surface of the bottom chassis.
 6. The display moduleaccording to claim 1, further comprising boards on which the pluralityof LEDs are disposed, and lenses installed on respective LEDs among theplurality of LEDs, wherein the sheet bottom portion comprises holes sothat the respective LEDs and the lenses protrude through the holes.
 7. Adisplay apparatus comprising: a display module configured to display ascreen, and comprises: a display panel, a plurality of light emittingdiodes (LEDs) disposed behind the display panel and spaced from thedisplay panel to emit light toward the display panel, a bottom chassisconfigured to accommodate the plurality of LEDs, and a reflective sheetdisposed inside the bottom chassis and is configured to reflect a lightportion incident thereon toward the display panel, the reflective sheetcomprising: a sheet bottom portion corresponding to a front surface ofthe bottom chassis, sheet inclined portions obliquely formed to face arear surface of the display panel, and a plurality of light adjustmentportions provided on respective sheet inclined portions and configuredto adjust the light portion incident on the respective sheet inclinedportions, wherein each of the plurality of light adjustment portionsdisposed on a respective sheet inclined portion corresponds to one ofthe plurality of LEDs disposed adjacent to the respective sheet inclinedportion in a one to one relationship, and wherein the plurality of lightadjustment portions extends in parallel with the front surface of thebottom chassis.
 8. The display module according to claim 7, wherein theplurality of light adjustment portions comprises at least one amongslits, a rectangular hole, and an oval hole extending in parallel withthe front surface of the bottom chassis.
 9. The display apparatusaccording to claim 8, wherein at least one of the plurality of lightadjustment portions comprises the slits extending in parallel with thefront surface of the bottom chassis.
 10. The display apparatus accordingto claim 8, wherein at least one of the plurality of light adjustmentportions comprises the rectangular hole extending in parallel with thefront surface of the bottom chassis.
 11. The display apparatus accordingto claim 8, wherein at least one of the plurality of light adjustmentportions comprises the oval hole extending in parallel with the frontsurface of the bottom chassis.
 12. The display apparatus according toclaim 7, further comprising boards on which the plurality of LEDs aredisposed, and lenses installed on respective LEDs among the plurality ofLEDs, wherein the sheet bottom portion comprises holes through which therespective LEDs and the lenses protrude.
 13. A display apparatuscomprising: a display panel; a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs)disposed behind the display panel and spaced from the display panel toemit light toward the display panel; a bottom chassis configured toaccommodate the plurality of LEDs; and a reflective member disposedinside the bottom chassis and configured to reflect a light portionincident thereon toward the display panel, the reflective membercomprising: a reflective bottom portion corresponding to a front surfaceof the bottom chassis, reflective inclined portions obliquely formed toface a rear surface of the display panel, and a pattern portion formedon the respective inclined portions, the pattern portion configured toadjust light incident on the reflective inclined portions, the patternportion comprising a plurality of pattern groups discretely formed oneach of the reflective inclined portions as discrete pattern groups,each of the discrete pattern groups being positioned on the reflectiveinclined portions to adjust light emitted from an adjacent LED, whereineach of the discrete pattern groups comprises members grouped together,and wherein the reflective inclined portions include disjoint areas freeof the members of the discrete pattern groups, the disjoint areas beingprovided between each pair of two adjacent discrete pattern groups. 14.The display apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the pattern portioncomprises at least one among slits, a rectangular hole, and an ovalhole.
 15. The display apparatus according to claim 13, wherein thepattern portion comprises slits which extend in parallel with the frontsurface of the bottom chassis.
 16. The display apparatus according toclaim 13, wherein the pattern portion comprises a rectangular hole whichextends in parallel with the front surface of the bottom chassis. 17.The display apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the pattern portioncomprises an oval hole which extends in parallel with the front surfaceof the bottom chassis.
 18. The display apparatus according to claim 13,wherein the pattern portion includes repetition portions includingopenings arranged on the reflective inclined portions.
 19. The displayapparatus according to claim 13, wherein the plurality of pattern groupsforms repetition portions arranged on the reflective inclined portions,and the members include openings grouped together.